Story A Journey with England *UPDATED* (Teams Announced for First 20/20!!!)

[Spoobir]

Make sure it's dark.
Not this.
Or this :O

 

[Highlander999]

Ok, I'll stick with violet from now on.

Cheers for the feedback

 

[Dr. Pepper]

awful! if this is how you're playing you have no chance against india. Sachin is going to rip your bowlers into two!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

bad loss for england....hope they bounce back...great update...and yeah lol uthappa looks so black...

 

[freddiw]

ok stick to blue, comic sans but size 4 is TOO BIG :gundown:
\

awesome awesome review and gfx btw just read through sensational mate that is by far you best set of updates EVER keep it up and you will be near to suren and gamer

 

[KBC]

[JK]Bad things started after you wore the sig. .[/JK]


Don't worry mate. England will do good.

It's still a frightening loss after they have had such a game, Probably indian players are Re-Born.

 

[Highlander999]

Live​

WITH

Ian Botham: Welcome, to "Hit for Six!" Well gentlemen, that was a poor opening match by England.


Sunil Gavaskar: Yes. It was an all-round poor performance by the England team. I personally thought that the England batsmen were about 100 runs too short but I never expected to see Sidebottom get smacked all over the ground like that. He just could not find his length and was either too short allowing himself to be hooked, or too full and was getting driven away. Plunkett was also another let down and I don't think we'll be seeing anymore of him.


Bumble: I think that is a bit harsh on Plunkett, Sunil. The England boys have just got off a long flight and are going to be tired and jet lagged. They are then expected to go straight into a match the very next day, and perform at the peak of their level. I'm sorry, it just isn't going to happen. Yes it is disappointing that England have lost, but in my opinion, ther was never any chance.

Ian, shouldn't you be downstairs getting ready for the awards ceremony?


Ian Botham: Oh damn it.


*Botham heads off*


Nasser Hussain: But to continue from where we left off. I think you both raise good points. There is no doubt that England were not playing some of their best cricket and I'm sure that this was down to other factors. However, you have got to take into account that these players have been playing in the County Championship for the past month and should be in good form. They shouldn't be too tired and frankly I feel Sidebottom should have done better.


Bumble: I'm not denying that Sidebottom was a big let down. I'm just saying we shouldn't be too quick to start having a go at them. It is only the first match of the tour and this is now a solid foundation for them to build on.

Anyway it is now time for the "Catch of the Match!" Award

Catch of the Match!

The panel did not really have to think too hard about this as it was obvious from the start who was going to get this. Ian Bell wins it for this match, with his fantastic diving catch to get rid of Uthappa.

Sunil Gavaskar: Fielding is so important in modern day cricket and it is a great example to youngsters when players pull of fantastic stops like this, however, they should still remember that the most important parts of fielding are the boring parts as if you make a simple mistake a boundary or a dropped catch can often turn out to be very important.

Now without further ado it is time for Ian Botham to do the post-match award ceremony.


Ian Botham: Thank you Sunil. If the winning captain Dinesh Mongia would join me up here.

Ian Botham Congratulations, Dinesh on a fabulous victory.


Mongia: Thank you very much Ian.


Ian Botham: Your team played very well. You must be proud of them.


Mongia: Oh yes, I'm very proud. Our bowlers did an excellent job and were backed up well by the fielders. They kept a good line and length and our spinners finished of their work in style. I was pretty confident once we got them all out, that we would get the runs. Robin batted excellently out there today and showed us all why he deserves a place in the Indian team.


Ian Botham: Yes it was a very good team performance. How do you think this will affect England?


Mongia: Well hopefully we have softened them up for the really important matches and given them a taster of what to expect. We know that they were not in the perfect shape after just arriving but it was still a good performance by the boys. All I can say is I wish England all the best and that they enjoy Indian hospitality.


Ian Botham: Well congratulations on the win Dinesh, I'll go and let you celebrate with your team.


If I might now call up the England captain, Paul Collingwood.

Ian Botham: Paul. A disappointing result for you.


Collingwood: Yeah, we did not really show our best side today. A few of the guys were jet lagged and not really feling too good. However, that is no excuse and it was still a really poor performance by us. There are still some positive points we can take from this one of them being Cook's great half-century in very tricky conditions.


Ian Botham: Yes it was a very good knock. What do you think you have learnt from this match?


Collingwood: The main thing I think we have learnt is how important spin is going to be in this tour. The Indian pitches are going to be giving a lot of help to the spinners and not having a spinner in this match really showed, by the fact that KP did so well with his part-time spin. I'm sure therfore, that Graeme and Monty will be seeing a lot of action throughout.


Ian Botham: What do you reckon of England's chances in this Tour.


Collingwood: We know it is going to be difficult, as India are a very good side. We are however ready to put up a fight and I am confident we can bring a couple of trophies back home


Ian Botham: All the best for the rest of the Tour, Paul.

It is now time to announce the Sky Sport's Man of the Match. It was a very close decision but our panel eventually decided that it should go to Alistair Cook after a very well fought knock. If Alistair might come up for a few words.

Ian Botham: Alistair a great knock out there in very difficult circumstances.


Cook: Thanks. Yeah, a couple of wickets fell and I saw that the bowlers were keeping a very tight line, so I just buckled down and tried to rotate the strike. Unfortunately a few of the lads came and went pretty quickly and so I had to then start to try and score a bit more quickly which then resulted in me getting out. However, I'm still pleased with a half-century in the first match.


Ian Botham: Yes, you really showed us what a highly skilled opening batsman you really are. Well enjoy the champagne and all the best for the rest of the Tour.


That concludes the post-match awards ceremony. President's XI have won by six wickets and England are looking poor. Stay tuned to see where England go from here.

 

[formula1man]

nice update. Top class as always. can't wait for the first international

 

[Dr. Pepper]

lol at botham, he's losing it. Cook was unlucky, only one who looked in good shape for England. They better sort it out or else....

 

[Pakistani Army]

Brilliant presentation ceremony there Tom. It was detailed and had brilliant graphics skills. Keep it up and I am looking forward to the next match.

 

[Pranav]

great presentation skill . looking forward to the next match.

 

[Chetan0304]

topclass awesome

 

[Highlander999]

Live​

Final Tour Match Cancelled

The final England Tour Match against India "A" had to be cancelled yesterday due to torrential rain. The England players had been looking forward to this match as it was neccessary match practice which they have been desperately short of recently. It now means that England head into the first 20/20 with only 1 full game under their belt and that was a complete disaster.

In other news it appears that the injury sustained by Stuart Broad is not as serious as first thought. It turns out he has only chipped the bone and there is even a chance he might be abe to play in the Test Series. Good news also on Flintoff as it appears he is making a speedy recovery and will definetly be making an appearance in India as long as he stays fit. If Flintoff and Broad could make it back to full fitness it would give a welcome boost to a weakened English seam attack.

 

[Pakistani Army]

Well that is a poor result for England. They needed that extra game. Best of luck England. Great presentation Tom.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

that's very bad for you. England need all the practice before playing the full strength India side and they haven't got it. You're going to go into the game vs India not very well but good luck.